computer illustration | final review

• RGB color mode:

additive colors because you create white by adding R, G, and B together—that is, all light is reflected back to the eye

used for lighting, television, and computer monitors

each of the RGB components can use a value ranging from 0 (black) to 255 (white)

when the value of all components is 255, the result is pure white; when all components have values of 0, the result is pure black

• CMYK color mode:

based on the light-absorbing quality of ink printed on paper
subtractive colors- combining pure cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) pigments would result in black by absorbing, or subtracting, all colors

black (K) ink is added for better shadow density. (the letter K came into use because black is the “key” color for registering other colors, and because the letter B also stands for blue) 

combining these inks to reproduce color is called four-color process printing

each of the CMYK process inks can use a value ranging from 0 to 100% 

low ink percentages are closer to white, and high ink percentages are closer to black
use CMYK when preparing a document to be printed using process inks

• linked images: 

image that is linked to an external file, like a shortcut on your computer.

not a part of the new file, therefore, the AI file size is smaller
easily updated- the original image can be changed in a different program (ie. Photoshop) & when the image is viewed in Illustrator, the old image file will be updated to the new, modified, image file automatically
can be lost, because their file location can’t be moved without re-linking
if you give the AI file to someone and it contains linked images, you will have to give them the individual image files too

• embedded images:

image that is re-stored within the new file

become a part of the AI file
are not affected by changes to the original file
since they are a part of the new file, you don’t have to worry about transferring all of the individual image files along with the AI file
increase the size of the AI file

• templates:

let you create new documents that share common settings and design elements

the template can also contain symbols for common design elements (such as logos) and specific sets of color swatches, brushes, and graphic styles
when a template is selected via the New From Template command, Illustrator creates a new document with identical content and document settings as the template, but leaves the original template file untouched

• EPS:

stands for Encapsulated PostScript

graphic file format that describes an image (raster/bitmap) or a drawing (vector) or both

• raster:

created with pixel-based programs or captured with a camera or scanner

they are more common in general such as jpg, gif, png, and are widely used on the web

• vector:

created with vector software and are common for images that will be applied onto a physical product

• vector EPS or raster are the only type of graphic files than can be placed into an Illustrator document

• rasterize:

will transform your effect into a real rasterized image like a picture, including the edges of the paths

effect will change in size depending on how you resize the rasterized artwork

convert to a pixel bitmap

object > rasterize is destructive- once it rasterizes something the only way to un-rasterize it is to use edit > undo

effect > rasterize is non-destructive and designed to let you preview how rasterized objects appear without actually rasterizing anything. (objects get rasterized upon output if the effect is in use)

• effects:

the ones in the top half of "effects" only apply to vector objects or the stroke/fill of a bitmap object

the ones in the bottom half are raster effects that can be applied to vector or bitmap objects

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/summary-effects.html

• artistic effects: 

simulate paintings or illustrations created with traditional mediums such as paint, charcoal, or watercolor

• mask:

mask is a way to hide part or all of an image—using a solid or transparency (alpha) mask

object whose shape masks other artwork so that only areas that lie within the shape are visible—in effect, clipping the artwork to the shape of the mask

clipping mask and the objects that are masked are called a clipping set

• compound path: 

made out of at least two objects

you can add, subtract and intersect shapes to form a compound path

• opacity masks:

provides the shape through which other objects show

the masking object defines which areas are transparent and the degree of transparency

Illustrator uses grayscale equivalents of the colors in masking object for opacity levels in the mask

where the opacity mask is white, the artwork is fully visible. where the opacity mask is black, the artwork is hidden. shades of gray in the mask result in varying degrees of transparency in the artwork

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/transparency-blending-modes.html

• blending modes: 

let you vary the ways that the colors of objects blend with the colors of underlying objects

when you apply a blending mode to an object, the effect of the blending mode is seen on any objects that lie beneath the object’s layer or group
the blend color is the original color of the selected object, group, or layer
the base color is the underlying color in the artwork
the resulting color is the color resulting from the blend

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/transparency-blending-modes.html

• envelope distort:

envelopes are objects that distort or reshape selected objects

you can make an envelope out of an object on your artboard, or you can use a preset warp shape or a mesh grid as an envelope

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/reshape-using-envelopes.html

• transform objects:

encompasses moving, rotating, reflecting, scaling, and shearing objects

transform objects using the Transform panel, object > transform commands, and specialized tools

• pathfinder:

https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-pathfinder-panel--vector-3306

• expand:

command that allows path operations to change the path of the objects and not just the appearance

• styles: 

named set of appearance attributes

• symbols:

an art object that you store and can re-use over and over again

• gradient:

colors are defined by a series of stops along the gradient slider

stop marks the point at which a gradient changes from one color to the next, and is identified by a square below the gradient slider

• gradient tools:

works only on selected objects that are filled with a gradient already; a tool that allows you to change the direction of the applied gradient

• brushes:

apply artwork to paths to decorate paths with patterns, figures, textures, or angled strokes

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/brushes.html

• mesh tool:

provides a way to create realistic blends that follow the contours of a specific shape

• mesh object:

multicolored object on which colors can flow in different directions & transition smoothly from one point to another

• mesh-lines: 

multiple lines crisscross the object & provide a way to easily manipulate color transitions on the object

• mesh point: 

intersection of two mesh lines

• mesh patch: 

area btwn any 4 mesh points

• warp effect:

distorts objects including paths, text, meshes, blends, and raster images

• mapping:

to lay vector or raster artwork on a surface of a 3D extruded object

• 3D effects:

extrude

bevel

revolve

rotate

• layers panel: